The Plank Redefined: Improve Performance with Prehab

What is the core?

Before we dive into advanced plank progressions, we must first set straight what the core is and why core stability is so vital for our movement system’s health and longevity. The core, from a muscular standpoint, is so much more than just a 6-pack of washboard arms. It essentially includes any and every that moves the trunk and aids in maintaining a neutral spine position.

This includes the popular “core muscles” such as the rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, and multifus, but also other muscles such as the latissmus dorsi, quadratus lumobrum, and pectoralis muscles.

What does it do?

Exercises to increase core stability are a staple among the rehabilitation and performance communities alike with common goals such as improving athletic performance, reducing low back pain, and improving muscular endurance. Core stability enhances the human movement system through 3 primary mechanisms:

1) Stabilization of the spine. The primary function of the core is to stabilize the spine and limit the amount of rotation and displacement of the spine. A combination of structures like your intervertebral discs, spinal facet joints, and ligaments provide passive stabilization to the spine. On the hand, our muscles provide active stabilization of the spine and through exercise, we can increase our the stability of our spine.

2) The core is anatomical bridge between our hips and shoulders. Increasing core stability helps transfer the full force and power of movement from the lower extremities to the upper extremities and vice-versa. In the large majority of sport-specific movements, power is generated in the hips and then transferred through the core to the upper extremities (ex: baseball swing). A weak core will diminish this transfer of power and limit athletic performance.

3) Core exercises can help with back pain. In certain subgroups of patients with low back pain, core stabilization exercises have been found to be extremely beneficial in reducing pain and improving quality of life.

Why planks?

Planks are foundation upon which any core strengthening program should begin. One must demonstrate good proximal stability (core strength) to provide efficient movement control for distal mobility. A lack of core strength will also increase the risk of compensatory strategies distally, ultimately increasing the risk of injury. As we discussed earlier, we utilize our core to stabilize our spine and planks are an amazing way to develop this stability. Some things to keep in mind when performing a plank:

Keep a neutral spine throughout. No arching your back or sticking your butt in the air.

Your head, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should always be straight and aligned with each other

Try not to shrug your shoulders or tense your neck. Relax and remember to breathe!

Advanced plank progressions

Many will argue that planks are simply too easy for the advanced athlete. However, there are always ways to make an exercise harder and more advanced. While there is a plethora of creative ways to advance a plank, we believe every plank progression is accomplished through one of three primary methods: incorporating additional muscle groups, altering the base of support, or adding dynamic movements.

1) Incorporate Other Muscle Groups

You can easily incorporate other muscles groups by alternating the plank position or incorporating specific movements. Shown in the following video are two plank variations: the side plank to target the gluteus medius and the serratus push-up plus to target the serratus anterior.

An EMG study by Reiman et al found that side planks demonstrated the highest EMG gluteus medius activity compared to any other exercise, including the single leg step-ups, single-leg deadlift, and clams. Progressing this exercise in the fashion above is a great way to develop your core stability and gluteus medius strength simultaneously. Gluteus medius strength is vital to hip stability!

The push up plus exercise not only places an extremely high demand on your core, but also adds an additional strengthening exercise to the serratus anterior. The serratus anterior is one of the three primary scapular upward rotators and is absolutely vital to shoulder mobility and function. Kill time and work on core and shoulder stability simultaneously!

2) Alter the Base of Support

Altering the base of support for either the upper extremities or lower extremities can add a dimension of instability to the plank, demanding even higher levels of core stability. Adding a swiss ball, bosu ball, TRX, or any piece of equipment that provides instability will do. In the video below, we demonstrate using a swiss ball to provide an element of instability to the upper extremities as well as further challenging should stability. A swiss ball can also be used on the lower extremities.

There are many ways to add dynamic movements to a plank exercise, but one of my favorites involves a primitive crawling movement that has been popularized by the Functional Movement Systems group. Each hand and leg lift should be accomplished with as little torso and pelvis movement as possible. Remember to maintain a neutral and perfectly still spine. Bird-dogs are also a favorite in the rehabilitation community. Placing a foam roller on the spine and preventing it from rolling off, as shown below, is a great cue to maintain a neutral spine and pelvis during the exercise.